Nurse, Soldier, Spy

Starred review from May 9, 2011
In one of two noteworthy picture-book biographies of this Civil War figure out this spring (the other being Carrie Jones's Sarah Emma Edmonds Was a Great Pretender), Moss and Hendrix focus on Edmonds' life as a young adult, as she assumes the identity of Frank Thompson and volunteers to join the army as a private. Disguised as a man, Edmonds fought at the Battle of Bull Run and elsewhere, and eventually further disguised herself as a black slave in order to spy on Confederate forces. Hendrix's (John Brown: His Fight for Freedom) artwork is, as usual, a showstopper, and his bold caricatures, dominated by midnight blues and sunset golds, convey Edmonds's strength and determination; brief quotations in massive type streak across certain spreads, delivering emotional wallops ("You there, boy! Who do you belong to?" booms a Confederate soldier, upon finding Edmonds in her slave disguise). For her part, Moss (Sky High: The True Story of Maggie Gee) delivers a riveting narrative, making it clear that Edmonds was fighting for more than one kind of freedom. Ages 8â12.

May 1, 2011

Gr 1-4-As a teen, Sarah Emma Edmonds ran away from home to avoid an arranged marriage. To make her journey safer, she left Canada for Michigan dressed as a man. She quickly decided that she liked the freedom it gave her and became traveling salesman "Frank Thompson." When the Civil War began, she enlisted as a soldier and eventually became an army nurse and a spy. Moss targets a short period in Edmonds's life in this picture-book biography, covering her enlistment and first spying assignment. The focused view makes the book accessible for children, but the tradeoff is that readers only learn the full scope of her accomplishments from a densely written author's note. Much of the story is told through dialogue. Moss acknowledges Edmonds's autobiography as a source, but quotations are not directly attributed. The pen-and-ink with acrylic wash illustrations are full of vibrant detail. Hendrix presents a meticulous view of military life, including army camp layouts and fortifications. Hand-drawn typography highlights important or humorous points in the text and adds even more visual interest. Carrie Jones's Sarah Emma Edmonds Was a Great Pretender (Carolrhoda, 2011) takes a wider perspective, covering the woman's childhood through her Civil War experiences and beyond. Although both books have a similar format, they highlight different elements of Edmonds's story, and could be used effectively in conjunction with one another.-Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2011
Grades 2-5 This lively picture book introduces Sarah Emma Edmonds, a Canadian girl who began dressing as a man at 16, later moved to Michigan to escape an arranged marriage, and joined the Union army under the name Frank Thompson. She served as a field-hospital nurse and a spy. Rather than squeezing all of Edmonds eventful life into a short book, Moss introduces her in a few paragraphs and spotlights particular experiences in greater detail, such as her enlistment in the army, her recruitment as a spy, and a successful mission to disguise herself as a slave and gather information behind enemy lines. Authors and illustrators notes, a glossary, and source bibliographies are appended. In ink-and-wash illustrations, Hendrix, who illustrated Abe Lincoln Crosses the Creek (2008), again displays his knack for visual narrative. The aerial view of Edmonds approaching the Confederate camp is particularly effective. This large-format picture book illustrates Edmonds courage and determination while conveying a good deal of information in a highly readable way.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)